Standing Rock

But in a development that stunned even the tribe’s lawyers, the decision by District Judge James E. Boasberg was effectively put on hold by a federal order to stop construction near the tribe’s reservation until the Army Corps of Engineers can revisit its previous decisions in the disputed portion.  Washington Post

As I've watched the situation at Standing Rock develop, I've been saddened beyond words.  This is my first attempt to express what I've been contemplating.  I see the courage in those who are standing, and I pray all those who are going in support are truly supportive.  What I see in all this, though; is this problem started long before Standing Rock, and as much as I'd like to, I can't lay all the blame on the white man.  Being of Native American descent, I've always been proud of my ancestry, but in many ways for several years, it was just a cubbyholed fact of my DNA.  I'm blessed to be obviously Native American in my appearance, as I've met a great many blond, blue-eyed folks who claim a Native heritage, but that isn't the point.  A part of me, was earthy and spiritual, but it wasn't until our Heavenly Father a.k.a. The Great Spirit healed my mind, that I more fully understand what it is to be tribal.  Now, I'm not going to make Standing Rock about my personal journey, but rather use this opportunity to express how wrong it's been for so long, and do my best to not incite any bigotry and lay down my own.  Standing Rock is by far not the first battle of the Great Plains, but it should be the last, and for the first time in American history, the side of greed should not win.

These brave souls of Standing Rock want more for their children and are willing to fight for that.  They haven't sold out to the ridiculous notion many of us of indigenous ancestry did.  For so many of us, our thinking was, "to try to give our kids everything we didn't have as kids, and higher public education is the path to success."  I was one of those!  On top of trying to live by and teach the next generation the mainstream programming, I failed to teach, or set the example of respect of the elders, either.  I've been reaping the bitter harvest of that for a number of years, and probably will for the rest of my days.

For the last several months my daughter has called me to discuss nothing but her latest career and big plans to make big money.  The call before the last one, was regarding her change of companies.  She informed me that she is now working the downtown developments, 'in her element' and she could smell the money . . . This is in Arizona, state of much tribal history and the last territory to be made a state, in the contiguous 48.  Now, to our last conversation.  She wanted to share in solidarity against the greed of the pipeline, even mentioned that we should go together and stand with them in Standing Rock, since we're tribal, ya know . . . Just a few months ago she was in this area and had conspired with her white grandmother to exclude me from the family gathering and keep her visit a secret from me.  Now she wants to go 1000 miles to be "family."  I had spent her childhood trying to buy into the corporate capitalism of America, and she has a college degree, worked in banking through the bailout years, and now real estate.  But she is against Big Oil . . .

I've contemplated long and hard about what I can actually do.  I have ministered both spiritual and natural health to The Nations in Oklahoma.  I need to do more, but what?  I share the pro-Native American memes on Facebook!  Yay me!  Being Native American isn't about DNA and bloodlines . . . well it is, but it's so much more.  It's spiritual!  It's a different lifestyle and culture.  It's a respect for our Creator, and a responsibility for creation.  It's an appreciation of nature that many of us have lost and certainly failed to teach.  These brave souls at Standing Rock are teaching their children what so many of us failed to do.  Seems everyone likes to claim a Native heritage as they bustle through their hectic schedule on their way to the next "white culture" appointment or event.  America doesn't reflect the culture of Native Americans and that's been a mistake for far too long, hundreds of years too long.  As much as I'd like to lay all the blame on white corporate greed, some of the blame lies at the feet of those of us who are Native American, were and are aware that tribal reality is not taught in the public school system, or reported on mainstream media, or represented in Washington, and failed to impart the spirituality of tribal integrity to the next generation.

The biggest change and greatest help I can offer is to boycott any product that is provided by Dakota Access Pipeline Company, but that is going to take some research.  The next thing I can do is to offer financial support to these individuals who are courageously taking a stand and have been since April of this year.  The third thing I can do is to share and teach the Scriptural spiritual truth of a tribal culture to those who are willing to learn.  The last thing I can do is to offer an "heritage" to those who are serious about Scriptural truth and Native endurance.

It's time, also that women stop trying to be equal with men and realize Native American culture is a matriarchal culture.  We've lost a lot in that regard.  Even the white folk have a saying, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  So, as a society, we chose to abandon home, hearth, and rocking the cradle for money.  This is where we, of Native ancestry would have to set aside bigotry and realize our nation would be greatly benefited if we taught the white people, our way of life.  If we could lay the greed aside and truly reach out in peace.

I truly would love to just blame those fat cat, white elitist of Big Oil, but the reality is, we all had a responsibility to teach our children better than we did, and those at Standing Rock are doing just that.  In the course of writing this article, it was announced that a judge has ruled against those standing at Standing Rock, then an injunction was put in place to stop construction.  The outcome remains to be seen.  Those brave hearted people simply do not have the same odds that our ancestors had at Little Big Horn, although; they do have the same values.

I have asked forgiveness for my failings and repented.  I pray for the Native Americans, they are my people.  

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Equal Opportunity Offender

I love people, but I am not terribly sociable.  I am friendly and always say hello, but I feel awkward as soon as the small talk begins, always have.  I have strong convictions and I make every effort to live by them.  I do long for greater fruit of the Spirit regarding gentleness, as I tend to be rather forthright and blunt.  My attitude is changing though, as to how to direct the gentleness I would like to display in my life.  There are a few groups of folks that I will no longer be handling with kid gloves.  I've really been heavy hearted about the children of this nation and world and it's time all the adults with a voice, wise up and speak up.

I've been noticing for years now, the so called "tolerant" are most intolerant of anyone with convictions.  I no longer care if you tolerate me or not, I'm not giving up my convictions.  Last Friday, when the SCOTUS declared their self-exaltation to overrule Scripture, I noticed two things immediately.  It seemed the colorful "party favors" at the taxpayers expense were already in place.  Nobody is going to convince me that all those colored lights were ordered and installed that same day!  Second, I realized all the states that had voted down same sex marriage have been overruled by five people who were never elected.  Americans are not represented in the government, and the three branches do not keep each other in check, at all!

Once those ideas settled in, I then became very politically aware that I needed to add the word "rainbow" to my sentence describing the White House as now the Colored House.  More political correctness.  Which of course, brought me to how very far we've NOT come, racially.  Rather than everyone living and letting live, we've found even more ways to be racially divided and offended.  The race card continues to be well played and this brown woman is sick and tired of it!  Racism is wrong, reverse racism is wrong.  Children are not born racist.  Racism is taught by very small minded people and reverse racism is rallied, also by very small minded people.

As for all the new gender bender identity issues, I'm just not playing.  I still remember when Bruce Jenner won the Gold in 1976.  He'll never be anyone but Bruce to me. and I refuse to use female pronouns.  He's openly referred to still having "that little thing" and has not discussed "reassignment" surgery.  So, although he may refer to his male genitalia as "that little thing" when it comes to sexual identity, size doesn't matter.  If you have male genitalia, you are a "he."  If you came equipped with female anatomy, you are a "she."  In all this sexually open talk in our society, it's very simple.  I'll use plumbing and electrical terms.  Parts that point outward and fit into another part is male.  Fittings that are hollow and connect around another part are female.  See how easy that is!  Any questions?  

Now as for gay marriage.  Sexual sin is rampant in many forms and the Bible has quite a bit to say about heterosexual sin.  I've not participated in homosexual sin, but I've certainly been guilty of heterosexual fornication, and that's sin also.  Torah does allow for divorce, so all I can say is, I've repented, I've been forgiven.  I've worn mixed threads in my clothing, but I stopped doing that too, and yes I've had, probably, just about every non-kosher meat there is, but I've repented and kept kosher now for 20 years, and fornication went out the window even before I became Torah observant.

I was under the impression, truly I was, that becoming a Christian meant Torah no longer applied.  I've since seen the light, repented and been forgiven.  Homosexual sin is not the unpardonable sin, but it is sin and the only way to be forgiven is to repent.  Now I'm a married heterosexual in a very strained and estranged relationship.  We are not equally yoked spiritually, and mutually not attracted to each other, but Mr. B does not want a divorce, so since I'm still legally married, sex with anyone else would be adultery.  I've been living celibate for 8 years now, and I'm still alive to tell about it.  Regardless of the changes in the law to accommodate the LGBT, etc. it's just never going to be enough!  "Suck it up buttercup" and stop all your sniveling!  Several years before this last marriage I was celibate.  I've found myself attracted to other men, but acting upon that attraction would be sin.

And stop comparing this to civil rights for blacks.  It is not the same!  It's not even comparing apples to oranges!  Skin color is a physical characteristic, sexual behavior is a choice.  So, LGBT, nobody is telling you have to like the opposite sex, it's just sin if you keep having sex with the same sex.   I refer to myself as a disenfranchised heterosexual.  Add that one to the gender identity glossary.

So Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim created He him; male and female created He them.  Torah of Holy Scripture

Defining Prejudice

Prejudice can be observed in our politics, in our justice system, in our individual choices and comments.  Prejudice is not simply a "black and white" issue and it certainly isn't a one way street.   Sadly, it is defined so fluidly, there really is no place to begin or end.  Prejudice is simply a matter of what has been taught to the human heart.  When it comes to race, we know babies see color, but simply do not care.  Skin tone is not what young children base their perspective upon, until they are taught to.  Babies do not care what color their caretaker is, as long as they are kept comfortable and feel safe.  Children in groups, just enjoy playing.  Fun is not determined by color, but by activity and social interaction.  The atmosphere of the culture in which a child spends their formative years determines their views of the world around them, with only one of those factors being race.

While so many parents are leaving the raising of their children to the system, "stranger danger" is taught very early.  Statistically, more children are abused by someone they know and trust, but fear of strangers becomes imbedded.  In many cases, the term stranger becomes further defined as "anyone different."  Different can then be racial, cultural, religious, political, or even geographical . . . I'm not suggesting we embrace every difference, and I certainly do not advocate the politically correct concept of "coexist" with the unity that is suggested by the UN and the Vatican.  Differences should be recognized and in many cases, there is cause for alarm.  The alarm, however; should not be based on skin tone, but rather ideology.  Sadly, our political and judicial system are leading much of our society to divide and most of the sheople are following.

As a rule, I like folks of all colors and background, but I draw the line at arrogance and bigotry, which comes in all colors.  I simply do not enjoy people who think too highly of themselves and I really prefer to avoid those who put others down.  I don't like name calling and have a particular pet peeve about folks who change a name or term slightly to make fun of someone.   It's big in talk radio and I find it very annoying, but based upon the popularity, must openly admit, it is apparently my personal problem, so I deal with it.  We can't make everyone accommodate and work around our personal quirks.  Yet it seems, the various minorities do that.  Our society continues to become more fractured as each special interest group desperately seeks a way to be a slighted minority or a humble grassroots movement.

A frightening issue is looming in my home state.  The prejudice is so extreme, it exceeds the desire for truth. The issue is no longer about right or wrong, or community, but simply the "them vs. us" ideology.  Sadly, two of the biggest issues our country now faces, are factors in the situation in Ferguson.  There is much distrust between the citizens and law enforcement.  To intensify that problem, the officer is white and the suspect black.  To that already shaky situation, add Al Sharpton and three White House officials.  It's as if, anarchy is the goal!  If the officer had been black, or the suspect, white, it wouldn't have even made the headlines outside the local area.  That can be verified in the fact that a non white officer shot a young unarmed white man within days of the incident in Ferguson, resulting in very different responses.  A white man was shot by a non-white police officer in Utah, but no one is crying for charges to be filed.

If the leadership and talking heads can continue to keep us divided and fearful, prejudice will increase.  Blacks hating whites is just as racist, as white bigotry.  It's time we the people stop fighting amongst ourselves and take exception with those who are feeding the fear and sowing the strife.  I've already made the joke after listening to so many democratic voices play the race card when some disagrees with the policies of the current administration.  "When the "other party" nominates a candidate of color in this next presidential campaign, they'll be holding the race card!  What will Oprah say when the "old white people" who haven't died, vote for someone like Ben Carson or Alan West?

In all the problems facing America, it seems like skin tone should be way down on the list.  I'm tired of the black and white issue, while the rainbow has been stolen by an agenda seeking to devour our children.  I'm tired of the pretend persecution of a manufactured war over a holiday, when real persecution is already taking place and heading our way.  I'm also extremely tired of the red conservatives vs. blue liberals, when it's incredibly obvious party politicians of both sides are working toward the same end:  control!  Reverse racism and political prejudice are simply choreographed to keep the people divided and ultimately enslaved!

. . . for YHWH seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but YHWH looketh on the heart.  History of Holy Scripture